In service
July 2, 1942 Fort Bragg
Twin brothers Edward R. Norton and James A. Norton Jr. were obsessed with flying. After two years of study they signed up as volunteers in the US Air Force. They were trained as bomber pilots.
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Stationed in England
Dec 1942, Bury St. Edmunds
In December 1942 and after their Flight Training Edward and James were sent to England and assigned to the 452nd Bombardment Squadron. At full strength their B-26 Bomb Squadron consisted of 16 aircraft and 377 men.
See Edward & James' Combat route Map 1>
The second mission
May 17, 1943, North Sea
On May 17, 1943 the Norton brothers flew their first mission in a convoy of 11 Martin
B-26 Marauder bombers. Targets: the power stations of Velsen and Haarlem. The mission ended in tragedy. All the bombers were shot down.
See Edward & James' Combat Route Map 2>
Body washed ashore
July 26, 1943 Haarlem
In September 1945 - more than two years after the disaster - Mr. Norton heard from the Mayor of Haarlem that James' body had been washed up on the beach on 26 July. Edward's body was never recovered.
See Edward & James' Combat route Map 3>
Final resting place
after the war, Margraten
After the war, the Norton family decided that Edward & James should find their final resting place in Margraten. Of the crew members killed on 17 May 1943, twelve are buried in Margraten, including James (P-16-5). Edward's name can be seen on the Walls of the Missing along with the names of seven other crew members.
See Edward & James' Combat route map 4>
July 1943 (?)
Registration ARC
September 1943
to the UK
July 16, 1944
Landing on Utah Beach
March 15, 1945
Siegfriedlinie
May 1, 1945
Died on pleasure flight
June 19, 1945
Buried in Margraten, Block RR, Row 12 Grave 290
February 18, 1943
Air Evac. Nurse diploma
Jan. 15, 1944
Married
July 26, 1943
Body washed up
March - Augus 1943
Panama
June 1944
To Europa
November 23, 1943
Departure for Europa
January 20, 1944
Arriving in England
June 1944
Landing Omaha Beach
US enters the war
December 11, 1941
Nazi Germany declares war on the US
Turnaround WWII
Februari 2, 1943
Battle of Stalingrad: Red Army defeats Germans
Norton twins
Born aviators
| Commencement date: | July 2, 1942, Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
| to Europe Date: | Dec. 1942: transfer to England |
| Start participation in the war: | May 17, 1943 |
| Army Unit: |
452 Bombardment Squadron, 322nd Bombardment Group, Army Air Corps |
| Rank | Both brothers: 2nd Lieutenant |
| Awards: | Both brothers: Purple Heart |
322 Bombardment Group of three Bomb Squadrons (450, 451 en 452 BS). A Bomb Squadron consisted of 12 to 16 units. After their arrival in England 322 BG was stationed USAAF Station #468, Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, Engeland.
Logo 322 BG airport Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk (1955)
Trained as
Pilots
The brothers began their training at the
US Air Force and Aviation Cadets in
Arcadia, Florida. They followed their Primary Pilot Training at Carlstrom Airfield. Primary Pilot Training. Then they went to Basic Pilot Training School in Greenville, Mississippi.After having successfully started the final part of their training:
de Advanced Flying School in de Columbus Army Flying School
Two letters from the brothers
to their friend Nuny
, On July 2, 1942, they were promoted to officer and on September 6 they received their 'wings' (pilots license) and they were installed as officers in the (starting) rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
After obtaining their license, the brothers were assigned to the 322 Bombardment Group, which flew Martin B-26 Marauder bombers. After July 1942 there followed four months of hard practice with the B-26's in order to be ready for battle.